Folding stock chute-loader and hog-holder.



R. L. DILLINGER.

FOLDING STOCK CHUTE LOADER AND HOG HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. s, 1914.

Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- THE NORRIS PETERS CON PHOTOJJTHQ, WASHINGTON. D.

R. L. DILLINGER.

FOLDING STOCK CHUTE LOADER AND HOG HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. I914.

Patented May18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- THE NORRIS PETERS CO1, F'HOTO L!THO., WASHING mN, B4 c.

ROSS I1. DILLINGER, 0F DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING STOCK GHUTE-LOADER AND HOG-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915..

Application filed February 3, 1914. Serial No. 816,216.

This invention is an improvement in foldable stock loaders or chutes; its object being to provide a chute which can be used for loading stock in wagons or cars, and for segregating animals in a flock for the purpose of marking same, or to hold the animals singly while being marked; and to enable stock to be accurately counted if desired by compelling them to pass singly therefroml My chute embodies these improvements, and can be folded in small compass when not in use, can be readily transported from place to place; and when in use can be so adjusted that the stock cannot return but mustpass on through the chute in the desired direction.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of the chute as set forth in the claims and hereinafter morefully explained with reference to I the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation "of the chute in one position for use. Fig.2 is a top plan view of the chute with boththe end gates in raised or closed position- Fig. 3 isa longitudinal sectional elevation, showing the hinged lower gate in lowered position in full lines and in raised position by dotted lines. Fig. l isa transverse section on line 4,4l, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail end view, partly broken, showing the hog holding gate. Fig. 6 is angend elevation showing the sides folded. F 1g. 7 1s a detail.

Fig. 8 is a detail.

As shown, thechute comprises two main side bars 1,1, which are preferably connected by transverse bars 2 on which the floor 2 is supported, the sidebars extending beyond the floor 2* at the lower end ofthe chute, and the bar 1 projects above the upper surface of the floor 2? for a purpose hereinafter explained. a

To the lower end of the floor 2? is attached ahinged floor section or gate3, by

suitable hinges 3 so that said section can be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 3 and form part of the floor-way of the chute; or it can also be raised to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 to close the lower end of the chute. When the gate 3 is lowered it can be supported on a rod 3 between the bars 1, 1 and whenit is raised it can be fastened by hooks and eyes as shown at 3.

To or above the bar 1 is hinged a foldable side 4: which may be composed of one or more longitudinally disposed bars 4* connected preferably by metallic straps 49, the lower ends of which are bent into eyes 4 and engaged with a rod 5 which is passed through eyes 5* on transverse straps 5* extending across the upper surface of the floor 2 the opposite ends of said straps 5' being upturned as shown at 5 beside the projecting upper edge of the side piece 1 and provided with eyes 5 transfixed by a rod5 which is engaged by the eyes 6 of straps 6 to which are connected longitudinal bars 6* that form the opposite foldableside member 6 of the chute or loader.

The construction is such that the side .6

may be folded inward flat upon the floor tion 3" is lowered into alinement with the floor, as shown in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines,

Fig. 2.,

The gate section 3 may be fastened raised position as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, I d after stock has been driven into the chute.

so that the stock cannot come back but must go forward through the chute into the car or wagon. The sides 1 and 6 fold inwardly, but when raised their lower edges abut against the upper edges of the side members 1 and 1 respectively, so that the sides cannot fall outwardly and are held in upright position. The sides 4: and 6 may bebraced when raised by means of standards a and 6 which are adapted to be engaged with loops 4 and 6 attached to the outer sidesof the bars 1, l preferably near the upper I end of the chute and these standards are 7 provided near their upper ends with bayonet-hook-members 4 and 6 which are adapted to be engaged over one of the side- 1 sides 1,. 1 near the upper. end of the chute by means of a rod 9 tran'sfixing the side bars and c as indicated in Fig. 3 and r for the upper end of the chute which'gate maybe formed of vertical wooden bars 7 connected by top'and botto'm wooden bars 7", 7"; at'theinner'side and above the bar 7 may be across-bar 7 d which is adapted to rest upon the upper edgejof the floor of the chute as, shown inFig'. 8 and thus support the gate' thereupon while the bar 7 underlies the lower edge of the floorand thus prevents vertical lifting of this gate by the 7 stock. The lower edge of gate 7 may be held in place by meansof hooks 7 and the upper end may be held in placeby means of a rod 7 attached to the bar 7 b and projectin beyond the sides of the gate. The ends ofrthis bar are adapted to pass through apertures 4 and v6 in the upper ends of the adjacent side members 4: and '6 as shown in Figs. 5 and "7, and may be retained by keys 7}, so that when this gate 7 is in place it holds the sides firmly together.

The gate 7 is provided with a central pas sage 'or opening 7 which preferably has a V-shaped lower end 7 and this passage is adapted to be closed by a vertically movable slide 8 which may be guided in grooved bars 7} attached to the outerside of the gate; this slide may be raised and lowered by any suitable means; preferably I pro- 'vide one edge of'the slide 18 with a rack 8 which isadapted tofbe engaged by'a segment 8 pivoted to the gatej7 and provided with a handle. 8 by which it can-beoperated, as

indicated in Fig. 5. When small stock isv 'f being loaded this slide may be adjusted" so 1 7/ the V-shaped notch 7 atthe lower end of "1 ,s asto allow only one animal at a; time to passfrom'the 'chute orloader, so that they can be accurately counted as they pass, and .shouldit be desired tomark the animals the slide 8 may be' o'perated so" that when an animal starts topass through the opening the slide is dropped'soas to catch the animal' by thefthroat in the Veshaped notch 8 in the bottom of the slide' corresponding to the passage. The animal can thus besecurely held without --injury j and can be marked while so held by this means the animals can be held effectively while being marked or ringed.

A foldable leg membefr 9 of any suitable construction is hinged to and between the bars, and the leg, asindicated n Fig. 1 N'Vhen the leg 9 is lowered as indicatedin Figfl it maybe held in such position by loadingsmall stock it is desirable fori'n any suitable devices, ch'ains9 being shown as'attached to the bars 1, 1 and provided with hooks adapted-to engage eyes 9 on the leg; This leg may be folded up against the bottom'of the chute as indicated in Fig.

6 and when so folded the ends project slightly beyond the end of the chute and are provided with spuds or hook members 9 which'are adapted to engagethe sill of the car, or wagon, and hold the chute firmly thereto. The chute when folded can easily be slid al'ongthe ground, and can be folded I for transportation, or when not in use. When folded the sides may be fastened by a hook and eye as'indicated at 10in Fig. 6.

It will be observed that in thi'sinvention the chute floor is composed of two sections, one of which operates as a'floor in" one posi- 'tion. and'as 'a gate in another position, the "chute being shortened when the gate is closed and facilitates; loading stock there- 7 may be removed.

What I claim is: p 7 v 1 A foldable stock chute, comprising oppositeside bars, opposite foldable side memfrom. When loading large stool; the gate bers'hingedly connected with said side bars, r 1 V a floor secured between saidb'ars andshorter than said'bar's' and side member's,and a combined' gate and floor member hingedly connected at the inner end of the said floor section and adapted when loweredto form part of the floor, and when raised tofclose the lower part'of the chute; said side members being foldable one overthe other and over "both the floor and floor member when the latter is lowered, substantially as described. 2. A foldable stock chute comprising opposite side bars,fone of said bars projecting above the floor, opposite side members hingedto'said side 'barsfin such manneras to fold inwardlyover the floor and oneover the "other, and when raised to standabove' "said' bars, a floorffixedly connected to said. bars and shorter than said bars andside members, "and a combined gate and floor or member 'hingedly connected to the inner end of the floor and adapted' when in lowered position to formpart'of the floor, and when in raised position to stand between the sides, and means for securing said member in raised position, substantially as described.

3. A'foldable stock chute-comprising opposite side' bars, one of said bars projecting above the vfloor, opposite side members r20 hinged tosaid s1de bars in such manner as to fold inwardly over the floor and one over the other, and when raised to standabove 7 floor fixedly "connected to but shorter than I and upon'the upper edges of said bars therea by preventing theirdropping outwardlygza' said bars and side members, an adjustable member hingedly connected to'the lower end "of the floor, and adapted'when lowered to part of the floor, andwhenrai'sed torstand as a gate between the sides; with a gate removably attached to the upper end of the chute and provided with a stock passage, and a slide for closing or regulating the size of said passage, substantially as described.

a. The herein described stock chute comprising opposite side bars, a floor connected with but shorter than said bars, metal straps extending across the floor having eyes on their ends, side members provided with hinge pieces, and rods transfixing the eyes on said straps and said hinge pieces to hingedly connect the said members to the respective bars, whereby the side members can fold inwardly one over the other but are prevented from swinging outwardly; a floor and gate member hingedly connected to one end of the floor and. adapted to lie between the side bars and form part of the floor when in lowered position and to form a gate when in raised position, and means for fastening this member in raised position, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a stock loader or chute, having bottom and side members, of a gate member detachably attached to the upper end of said chute and having a vertical opening or slot provided with a V- shaped lower end, a slide for closing said gate, means to operate the slide, and a rod attached to the upper end of said gate projecting beyond the edges thereof adapted to engage corresponding apertures in the sides of the chute to fasten the gate in place and means adapted to engage said rod to hold the sides together.

6. In combination with a stock loader or chute, having bottom and side members, of a gate member detachably attached to the upper end of said chute and having a vertical opening or slot, a slide for'closing said slot, guides for said slide attached to the gate, a rack on the side of said slide, a segment pivoted on the gate and engaging said rack to operate the slide, and a rod attached to the upper end of said gate projecting beyond the edges thereof adapted to engage corresponding apertures in the sides of the chute to fasten the gate in place and means adapted to engage said rod to hold the sides together.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROSS L. DILLINGER- Witnesses:

'ELIJAH M. NEELLEY,

C. E. lWILNEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissionerof Patents, Washington. D. 0. 

